This paper provides a comprehensive overview of seismic qualification testing for Busbar Trunking Systems (BTS). Busbar trunking systems are utilized in high rise buildings, hospitals and industrial applications to distribute power to electrical loads. IEC 61439 does not prescribe a single global “earthquake test” for all assemblies, but it does require the panel builder to verify mechanical strength, enclosure integrity, dielectric. Seismic Qualification for IEC 61439 panel assemblies is the verification that low-voltage switchgear and controlgear systems retain structural integrity, electrical continuity, and protective function after earthquake excitation. For critical infrastructure, this applies to main distribution. The dynamic beha- vior of the 400, 220 and 150 kV busbars (frames+insulators+bars) under seismic loads was carried out using the following procedure: experimental determina- tion of dynamic properties of their components, development of an analytical model fitting experimental data and computation. The results show that the seismic performance of the bus-bar connecting circuit can be optimized by using independent tubular bus layout for each span, increasing insulator support and reducing the span of single tubular bus.
